Japan’s Cabinet on Tuesday relaxed a decades-old ban on military-related exports. The goal, government officials say, is to fortify ties with allies and bolster Japan’s domestic defense industry.But as CCTV’s Terrence Terashima reports the move could escalate tensions with China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea long wary of Japan’s military security policy.In 1967, Japan adopted three principles on arms export, to uphold its status as a pacifist state.

In almost half a century, the Japanese Government approved new principles, setting stage for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s wish to play a more active role in global security.
Close to 70 percent of the Japanese public oppose changing the three principles as they feel that it might bring Japan closer to international conflicts or use of its technologies in wars. Not to mention increasing possibility of Japan beefing up its military and change its status as a pacifist nation”

The newly setup National Security Council, will screen and decide whether to allow exports when deals are considered important and require caution. Prohibit the export of weapons to countries involved in conflicts or violate U.N. resolutions.

But public concerns remain. There is no perfect screening and fear Japanese technologies used in conflicts.

Japan Relaxes Arms Export Regime

Japan Relaxes Arms Export Regime

Japan's Cabinet on Tuesday relaxed a decades old ban on military-related exports. Government officials say the goal is to fortify ties with allies and bolster Japan's domestic defense industry.
But the move could escalate tensions with China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Both countries are wary of Japan's military security policy.CCTV's Terrence Terashima has more.